MOWER WITH CURTAIN ASSEMBLY
A lateral offset mower implement may include a mower support frame, a pivot head, a curtain support apparatus, and a curtain. The mower support frame has a first end attached to a work vehicle and a second end spaced from the first end along a central longitudinal axis of the mower support frame. The pivot head is coupled to the mower support frame proximate the second end thereof. The pivot head defines a first curtain axis, and the first curtain axis is vertical during operation. The curtain support apparatus has a primary curtain support member attached to the pivot head and extending away from the pivot head to a distal end. The curtain is supported by the curtain support apparatus. The primary curtain support member is pivotably attached to the pivot head for relative rotation between the primary curtain support member and the pivot head about the first curtain axis.
N/A.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure relates generally to a mower implement, especially to a lateral offset mower implement.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREA lateral offset mower implement may be attached to a work vehicle, such as a tractor, to cut the crop. The later offset mower implement may have a cutter bar extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction of travel during operation. The cutter bar has cutting elements for cutting the crop. The lateral offset mower implement may include a curtain extending in the same direction of the cutter bar and defining a boundary for preventing debris (i.e., cut crop or other disturbed material) from projecting far away from the cutter bar. As such, the curtain restrains the cut crop material within the boundary defined by the curtain, thereby defining or forming the windrow.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREAccording to an aspect of the present disclosure, a lateral offset mower implement may include a mower support frame, a pivot head, a curtain support apparatus, and a curtain. The mower support frame has a first end attached to a work vehicle and a second end spaced from the first end along a central longitudinal axis of the mower support frame. The pivot head is coupled to the mower support frame proximate the second end thereof. The pivot head defines a first curtain axis, and the first curtain axis is generally vertical during operation. The curtain support apparatus has a primary curtain support member attached to the pivot head and extending away from the pivot head to a distal end. The curtain is supported by the curtain support apparatus. The primary curtain support member is pivotably attached to the pivot head for relative rotation between the primary curtain support member and the pivot head about the first curtain axis.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a lateral offset mower implement may include a mower support frame, a head, a curtain support apparatus, and a curtain. The mower support frame has a first end attached to a work vehicle and a second end spaced from the first end along a central longitudinal axis of the mower support frame. The head is coupled to the mower support frame proximate the second end thereof. The curtain support apparatus has a primary curtain support member attached to the head and extending away from the head to a distal end and a curtain support frame rotatable relative to the primary curtain support member. The curtain is supported by the primary curtain support member and the curtain support frame.
Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying figures in which:
Referring to
The cutter bar 34 is pivotally connected to the second end 324 of the mower support frame 32 to selectively fold the cutter bar 34, with the support of the lift and suspension system 36. The lift and suspension system 36 includes a hydraulic cylinder 362 and a float spring 364. The hydraulic cylinder 362 interconnects the mower support frame 32 and the cutter bar 34, configured to fold the cutter bar 34. When the cutting operation is concluded, the hydraulic cylinder 362 retracts and pivots the cutter bar 34 from an operation position, where the cutter bar 34 is substantially parallel to ground surface, to a folded position, where the angle between the cutter bar 34 and the mower support frame 32 is less than that in the operation position. The folded position of lateral offset mower implement 30 has a smaller width, compared to the operation position, for transportation. The float spring 364 also interconnects the mower support frame 32 and the cutter bar 34 and is configured to balance the down pressure of the cutter bar 34 without damaging the crop stubble/stalk when the cutter bar 34 passes through the field.
A pivot head support 382 may interconnect the pivot head 38 and one of the mower support frame 32 and the cutter bar 34. The pivot head 38 is coupled to the mower support frame 32 proximate the second end 324 through a pivot head support 382. The pivot head support 382 may be a tube or plate disposed perpendicular to the cutter bar 34. The pivot head support 382 is positioned proximate the rearward edge 346 and the inward edge 348 of the cutter bar 34 with a clearance away from the second end 324 of the mower support frame 32 in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis 326 of the mower support frame 32 so as to prevent an interference during a folding of the cutter bar 34.
Referring to
The lateral offset mower implement 30 also includes a first latch 39 interconnecting the pivot head 38 or pivot head support 382 and the primary curtain support member 42. The first latch 39 is engageable to secure the primary curtain support member 42 against rotation about the first curtain axis A1. The first latch 39 is also disengageable to allow relative rotation of the primary curtain support member 42 about the first curtain axis A1. As shown in
Alternatively or in addition to the first latch 39 as shown in
The break-away release 48 includes a channel piece 482, a sliding piece 484 moveably positioned at the track of the channel piece 482, a spring 486 positioned on an upper piece 4842 of the sliding piece 484, and a block 488. The upper piece 4842 includes a claw 4844 configured to engage with a first side 4882 or second side 4884 of the block 488. When the force applied to the primary curtain support member 42 is greater than the threshold value, the spring is compressed, the sliding piece 484, with the upper piece 4842, moves to retract the break-away release 48, the primary curtain support member 42 rotates, and one side of the claw 4844 is engaged with the first side 4882 of the block 488 and sliding upward. The spring 486 presses the upper piece 4842 to resist the claw 4844 from climbing along the first side 4882. The spring 486 may further press the claw 4844 return to the original position, so as to return the primary curtain support member 42 to its original position that is parallel to the cutter bar 34. When the curtain support apparatus 40 encounters an object such as a bush, the curtain support apparatus 40 is allowed to temporally independently rotate rearward relative to the cutter bar 34, with the cutter bar 34 remaining at the same position. As such, the cutter bar 34 may keep severing the crop during the operation without the interruption from the object. The curtain support apparatus 40 is returned to its original position by the break-away release 48 after the interruption of the object removed.
When the break-away release 48 retracts further, the claw 4844 may slide over the block 488, as shown in
The curtain 50 is supported by the curtain support apparatus 40. The curtain support apparatus 40 may include a curtain support frame 44 attached to the primary curtain support member 42 and supporting the curtain 50. In particular, the curtain support frame 44 is configured to support the curtain 50 over a coverage area covering the cutter bar 34, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The curtain support apparatus 40 may have a saddle(s) or ring(s) coupled to the curtain support frame 44 and having an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the primary curtain support member 42, such that the curtain support frame 44 is rotatably coupled to the primary curtain support member 42 when a section of the primary curtain support member 42 is surrounded by the saddle or ring. As shown in
The curtain support apparatus 40 may include a second latch(s) 43 engageable to secure the curtain support frame 44 against rotation about the second curtain axis A2 and disengageable to allow relative rotation of the curtain support frame 44 about the second curtain axis A2. The second latch 43, referred to
In another implementation, the second latch 43 may include one or more C shape stop 434 attached on the primary curtain support member 42. When the saddle 446 is positioned between the two C shape stops 434, the C shape stops 434 prevent the curtain support frame 44 from sliding axially along the primary curtain support member 42. In addition, the second latch 43 may include a pin 436 coupled to saddle 446 or cross piece 444, and the pin 436 may abut or engage one end of one of the C shape stops 434, so as to limit the range of rotation of the curtain support frame 44 about the second curtain axis A2, which is defined by the two ends of each C shape stops 434, as shown in
Referring to
Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is to pivot the curtain support apparatus for the operator to service the cutter bar or clean the curtain. Another technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is to provide a break away mechanism for the curtain support apparatus, such that, in operation, when the curtain support apparatus encounters an object, it can pivot with certain degrees and return, without interrupting the cutter bar's cutting performance.
While the above describes example embodiments of the present disclosure, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A lateral offset mower implement comprising:
- a mower support frame having a first end configured for attachment to a work vehicle, and a second end spaced from the first end along a central longitudinal axis of the mower support frame;
- a pivot head coupled to the mower support frame proximate the second end thereof, the pivot head defining a first curtain axis, wherein the first curtain axis is generally vertical during operation;
- a curtain support apparatus having a primary curtain support member attached to the pivot head and extending away from the pivot head to a distal end;
- a curtain supported by the curtain support apparatus; and
- wherein the primary curtain support member is pivotably attached to the pivot head for relative rotation between the primary curtain support member and the pivot head about the first curtain axis.
2. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 1, wherein the curtain is rotatable relative to the primary curtain support member about a second curtain axis.
3. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 2, wherein the second curtain axis is generally horizontal during operation.
4. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 1, further comprising a cutter bar attached to the second end of the mower support frame, wherein the cutter bar includes a cutter element configured for cutting crop material.
5. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 4, wherein the curtain is positioned relative to the cutter bar to cover the cutter bar during operation.
6. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 5, further comprising a curtain support frame attached to the primary curtain support member and supporting the curtain, wherein the curtain support frame is configured to support the curtain over a coverage area covering the cutter bar.
7. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 6, wherein the second curtain axis is aligned with an extension of the primary curtain support member, and the curtain support frame is rotatable relative to the primary curtain support member.
8. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 1, further comprising a break-away release interconnecting the primary curtain support member and a pivot head support configured to support the pivot head, wherein the break-away release is operable to secure the primary curtain support member in a first position during operation and to enable rotation of the primary curtain support member relative to the mower support frame and about the first curtain axis in response to a force applied to the primary curtain support member having magnitude greater than a threshold value.
9. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 4, further comprising a pivot head support interconnecting the pivot head and one of the mower support frame and the cutter bar.
10. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 9, wherein the cutter bar presents a forward edge and a rearward edge during operation, with the pivot head support positioned proximate the rearward edge of the cutter bar.
11. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 10, wherein the cutter bar is pivotally connected to the second end of the mower support frame to selectively fold the cutter bar, and the pivot head support is positioned proximate an inward edge of the cutter bar with a clearance away from the mower support frame in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the mower support frame so as to prevent an interference during a folding of the cutter bar.
12. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 1, further comprising a first latch interconnecting the pivot head or pivot head support and the primary curtain support member, wherein the first latch is engageable to secure the primary curtain support member against rotation about the first curtain axis, and disengageable to allow relative rotation of the primary curtain support member about the first curtain axis.
13. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 1, wherein the primary curtain support member includes a pivoting body having a side coupled to a proximate end of the primary curtain support member and two ends separated by the side of the pivoting body, the pivot head includes an axial pin stand attached to a side of pivot head support and axial pin coupled between one end of the pivoting body and the axial pin stand and aligned with the first curtain axis.
14. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 13, further comprising a first latch, wherein the first latch is configured to insert to the pivoting body of the primary curtain support member and the axial pin to secure the primary curtain support member against rotation about the first curtain axis, and is configured to remove from the primary curtain support member and the pivoting body to allow relative rotation of the primary curtain support member about the first curtain.
15. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 7, wherein the primary curtain support member includes a cylindrical outer surface, and the curtain support frame is rotatably coupled to the primary curtain support member between a working position where the curtain covers a cutter element and an open position where the curtain support frame is rotated in a direction to expose the cutter element.
16. The mower implement set forth in claim 15, further comprising a saddle or ring coupled to the curtain support frame and having an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the primary curtain support member.
17. The mower implement set forth in claim 16, wherein the saddle includes a first halve and a second halve cooperating with the first halve to surround a section of the primary curtain support member, and the first halve is mounted on the curtain support frame.
18. The lateral offset mower implement set forth in claim 7, further comprising a second latch, wherein the second latch is engageable to secure the curtain support frame against rotation about the second curtain axis, and disengageable to allow relative rotation of the curtain support frame about the second curtain axis.
19. A lateral offset mower implement comprising:
- a mower support frame having a first end configured for attachment to a work vehicle, and a second end spaced from the first end along a central longitudinal axis of the mower support frame;
- a head coupled to the mower support frame proximate the second end thereof,
- a curtain support apparatus having a primary curtain support member attached to the head and extending away from the head to a distal end and a curtain support frame rotatable relative to the primary curtain support member; and
- a curtain supported by the primary curtain support member and the curtain support frame.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 10, 2022
Publication Date: Feb 15, 2024
Inventors: Jacob D. Kappelman (BLOOMFIELD, IA), DAVID V. ROTOLE (BLOOMFIELD, IA), Logan T. Pronschinske (Ottumwa, IA)
Application Number: 17/818,732